Animated display apparatus



Dec. 27, 1949 J. scHlLLlNGER ANIMATED DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l L@ i,

ATTORNEYS 27, 1949 J. scHlLLlNGER ANIMATED DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l @wam-sewn@ ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 27, 1949 AN IMATED DISPLAY APPARATUS Joseph Schillinger, deceased, late of New York, N. Y., by Frances Schillinger, executrix, New

York, N. Y.

Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,161

Claims.

This invention relates to animated display devices or apparatus and more particularly to display apparatus of the turntable type. The object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this kind which, because of its particular construction, is adapted for a wide variety of uses.

Another object of the invention is to animate not only the platform or table on which the objects are displayed but also the objects themselves with relation to the platform.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and the invention will be understood from a consideration of these drawings and the following detailedV description. In these drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved display apparatus and the control cabinet therefor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a diagram of electrical connections.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the apparatus comprises a cabinet I, preferably of cylindrical form and -preferably provided at the bottom with casters (not shown) to facilitate moving of the apparatus. At the top of the cabinet or housing I is a rotatable circular head 2, of wood or other suitable material. On the top of the head 2 there rests a smooth plate 2a preferably of metal such, for example, as duralumin, the two members constituting a rotary table or platform indicated by numeral 3. Both surfaces of the plate 2a are preferably coated with a hard lacquer to render these surfaces as smooth and frictionless as possible. The opposite faces may be in different colors and the plate placed either side up to expose the color which harmonizes best with the objects to be displayed upon it.

Projecting'above the upper surface of table 3 are a plurality of rotary friction drive members such, for example, as indicated at 4, 5, 6 and l. These drive members are mounted on the under side of table 3 and consequently rotate with it, and each drive member also is arranged to rotate about its own axis, so that they rotate both with preferably being' three-dimensional,

and relative to turntable 3. As shown in thev embodiment of the invention ilustrated in the drawings one of these rotary drive members 4, is placed at the center of `turntable 3, and the three other rotary drive members 5,' 8 and 'I, are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center. It will be understood that the number and arrangement of these rotary friction drive members can be changed to suit the requirements for which the apparatus is constructed.

Associated with and driven by each of rotary friction drive members 4 to 1 inclusive is a display object of a predetermined configuration, these objects standing upright on table 3 and although they may be thin sheet-like objects occupying only two principal dimensions if desired. Thus, for example, associated with the central friction drive member 4 there is a substantially twodimensional object 8 consisting of a thin sheet of metal or other suitable material having any desired shape and supported upon an elongated base member 9 having a width just sucient to maintain the display object 8 in upright position. The' other three display objects, I0, II and I2, as shown, are respectively a scroll of angular design, a hollow rectangular polyhedron, and a scroll of substantially spiral shape.

The several display objects 8, I D, Il and I2, are maintained in frictional engagement with their respective rotary drive members 4 to I inclusive, by any suitable magnetic means. Thus, for example, each of these drive members may be made in the form of a rod or bar magnet such as indicated in Fig. 3 in connection with drive member 4, each of the display objects 8 to I2 inclusive being constructed of magnetizable material, at least at their base portions. Therefore, it will be understood that the base 9 of display object 8 is of magnetizable material such as soft iron, and that the display objects I0, I l and I2, if not made of -magnetizable material, are provided along the bottom with av narrow strip of soft iron as indicated.

Arrangements are provided, which are about to be described, for rotating the turntable 3 in either direction and at any desired suitable speed and also for rotating each of the friction drive Ymembers l to I inclusive in either direction and? at any desired rotative speed. These speed ad-` the justments and directions of rotation are controllable from outside of the apparatus cabinet i while the apparatus is operating by means of mechanism provided in a control cabinet i3. The construction of the apparatus is shown in more detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The rotary platform or table 3 is supported on a rotatable spider I4 which is keyed to the upper end of a vertical shaft I5 having a bearing I l mounted on a base member II which is secured to the base I8 of housing I. Shaft I5 extends upwardly somewhat more than one-half the height of housing I and is supported adjacent its upper end in a bearing I-9`Yat. thevtop of. a bracket memben 2i! firmly attached'at its bottom toffbase member IT. A thrust bearing 2I supports the spider I4 and the parts carried thereby. Spider I4 is provided withV four horizontal arms which terminate in vertical portions 22, to the upper ends of which head2' is secured. 1- .fr At the lower end of Vertical shaft I5 there is a Worm gear 23 and cooperating therewith a driving worm 24 which is fixed to shait-25 of the table operating motor 26. "'The gear reduction afforded by the worm gearing 23, 24, whom-Zopera ated by a motor 26 of appropriate speed, is such as toagives theturntable '3 a'.l rotative speed frange of: from 1about onefto aboutsx=revolutions permin-l ute,y` although.- thisespeedrange; Ias well Y'asathe minimum and maximumfspeedsfrnayV be .changed tofsuitl the frequirementsothedisplayc- .Thefourvrotaryfrictiorrdrive-'members 4 to 'i inclusive-'are leach Edriven byiindividufalu electric motors throughisui-table reduction gearing to'pro; vide :asL speedarangefof'r from aboutf40 5to .about 240 revolutions @per'minutefforfthese fdrive meme bers. C. Thesefmechanisims arei constructed Tin fsimilar1unitsfas shown in fdotted linesrinrFig-:B and a descriptionrof oneuoftzthemawill be' ee'med -sui' c'enti) :Y fr' is?? .Y fzThe rotary friction drive member such, for example;'rasdrlvednembrfft Yat the? center of the tablerconsistsfof 'a shor-tbarfmagnetfasshownfin Figgffclampedi by afset screw-2-1arrangedfn :a centeringl'iolder '28. Holder'2 is "murited'lat' theupper: endtnf'afsncrt shaftwwnichfnas a single comparatively?y long "bearin'g;1asshown-inf-Fig; 3; whdhilexteds verticallyth 'ugh`a"-hor' ontll fra-m?melnhiif'll "f T" J Memberllfis secured to the under side of platform orvtable 3 bylimean's flfourscrews 3l; the heads'of whichfla're accessible in-fcountersunk r"e cesses in theftopirof'headf'Z. The-llower ends-of these screws are threaded intoitheframe' '-memi-f bier 3o; spacing couarsfaz being povided'iofnom member-30 `'at a xsuitable distance Vbelow thel bot tom ofhead 2i f On-theflowerf' side of frame'1 30"aremounted the'drivinglmotor'33or the unit anda speed; reducing mechanism' indicated byfriumeral' 34. A'Thehighyspeed shaft" oi 'this mechanismis" c'nne'ctedlto'drivingmotor 33 and tneiows'peed' shaft to shaft 29 through'worr'n Agearing 3 5. ,In order to "simplify" the wiringandv "control switches," main dvingfmkitcr 2`6and`m`otors 33,1

3B,' 3'I"and33 "'for. thefour .friction drive membersv fito, "47; inclusive, tare `each 'construc`ted withP a reversing-Winding for opeatingthe 'motor lin al countervclockwise directionythis beingrindi-cated.` in the diagram'of connections shown inEigr-l- Referring.. to Fig` 4.currentwfrom supplyA conductors is under the-control. of a main switchA 4,0...through which one side ofrthe supplyiis-conr` nectedta commoneconductorfii leading l:to theY tcrminaliconnection vofecen. off. the vemotors The other side of the supply is connected through switch 4I) to a ballast resistor 42 and thence through conductor 43 to a plurality of adjustable resistors 44, 45, 48, 41 and 48, all of which are connected in parallel and there being one of these resistors for each of the live motors. Adjustable resistor 44 is connected to a reversing switch 49 which, when moved t0 the left to engage a contact 5B, operates main motor 26 in a counter-clockwise direction, and when moved to the right to engage Contact 50 operates this motor in a clockwise direction.

Similar reversing switches 52, 53, 54 and 55 are provided-"for each'tof the'ffrictiondiive member operating motors 33, 36, 31 -and 38 respectively. These switches are mounted within the control cabinet i3 and by means of them the operation of turntablefand of each of the friction drive niembers 4 to 1' inclusive, at any suitable speed and. infeithe'r direction of rotation, may be cbtained. 'fit It will be understood that the conductors, ac-

. cording.to-the-.wiring diagram shown in Fig. 4,

are contained Within cabinet I 3, a cable 53 interconnecting this cabinet with housing I. In order to complete the cir-cuitsf-between the conductors of cab'lef betweenlthe endeo'f' thi'sffcable inside housing Ifandthecfcurfmotors which rotate withI platform '3; namely, motors-33, 36; 3'I and-38, the terminal ends'l fo'f `nineof theconductors withi'n' Y cablet are' connected to nine stationary exible spiders: Brusnesfisliiare maintained-ei contacts or brushes".I 5-'1 `caried i'on-` statifonary' mounting 58 directly beneath the rotating-'spider' I 4- 'and'arrangeds radiallyffwith frespecteto'rthis V`'Ilfle'"cmi'mon conductor 4I of Fig. 4 is connected to ion'e of-lt'liese `lbrusliesiiiffor" example the innermost bruslilv Gill' Whichcontacts the' innerl' most ring 62. A conductor 63 leads fronl'iin'era most ring 621 to fmot'or'iS and`similar conductors (not-showin" connetieach of inoto'i's 36,*3'I'an`d 38 with ring 62 also. The remainder of th brushes' 51 "and ngs `59 ar'conected'iir pairsto the two leads bffea-chf* the four motors 33; '36, 31 and 3'8`z'- Thus, Vfor vexanipleftlie tworingsneiit adjacent to innermost ring 62 may be c'zonr'iectedY through conductors t4 and'tfto the forward and reverselwindingsof motor-333,." The remaining three pairs of rings`v 5S" are' connected 'respectively 4 to the remaining three motors "36;'3'1 and 38.

By means "of 'thisapparatu's tlre table 3 can be the apparatus, 'andsmultaneously the friction drive'members 4' to 'Iinclusiv'e'can be rotatedin either the 'saine or opposite'direction's', and at the same` rotative speeds-or at diierentspeeds, all

' under .the control of theY` speed-regulating-re`` sisters 44 to 48'inclusive`. AccordinglyQ-the display objects 8*, IiLLII and 'I2 will-be carried around by the turn-tablev 3y anclfwill also -be-moved on the surface of --table raround their respective-:drive members .and inzfapath corresponding to the paire ticular. configuration offeachiofJ-these objects-f- In the case of the display object represented by Athe rectangular. polyhedroncIl-i fthel inner :sur-

I face fof the polyhedrori -Wi111= be'rolled 'continuously' on the surface o'ftherot'ating friction drive-inein-`4 ber IS:A rIn the 1' case-of# the: open'display" objects' such 'as the angular -scrollfl andthe spiral 'scroll friction: drive' memberforl rolls EJandIIl lai-.fl f .CI

will roll alternately on opposite sides of these objects. As shown, drive member 5 is in contact with the outer surface of the angular scroll object I and when the surface of the scroll is fed past the drive member until one end of the scroll reaches this member, the scroll will swing to the opposite side of drive member which will then roll in contact with the inner surface of the object. The same is true of the spiral scroll display object I2.

Accordingly, each of these 'four display objects 8, I0, II and I2 will be moved by their respective drive members in diiierent and predetermined paths on the surface of turntable 3. It will be understood that by appropriately adjusting the speeds of the respective drive members 4, 5, 6 and 1 by means of their respective speed control resistors 45, 46, 41 and 48, the cycles of motion of the four display objects can be timed with respect to one another so that the various cycles may be made to synchronize or to occur rhythmically with respect to one another. It will also be understood that many other shapes of display objects may be used in addition to the four which have been illustrated.

The apparatus of the invention has a number of uses, the first of which is as an advertising apparatus. Articles, such as jewelry, fabrics, etc., can be mounted or secured to the surfaces of the display objects 8, I0, II and I2, so that with the apparatus mounted in a store window, for example, the various articles will be exhibited from different angles and views, thus bringing out their characteristics. By the motion of table 3 and of the display objects 8, I0, I I and I2 relative to the table, the articles displayed on the display objects will be brought into view from' diierent angles with respect to the lighting of the store window (or other illuminating devices provided for the purpose), and this not only will illuminate from various directions the goods displayed, but will also cause the production of a variety of shadow eiects. Such effects are capable of innite variation by changing the display objects.

Further, in using the apparatus for advertising purposes, goods may be displayed on the rotating table 3 and the rotation of the table and the cyclical movements of the display objects thereon (together with the shadow effects produced thereby) may be employed to attract attention to the merchandise displayed.

It will be understood also that the apparatus may be advantageously used in connection with outdoor advertising.

Another use of the apparatus is in connection with miniature theaters where mechanical gures taking the place of display objects 8, I0, IIl and I2 can be made to go through dance routines or move from place to place on the circular stage consisting of the turntable 3. These dance routines can be timed with respect to the various figures by adjusting the speeds of the friction drive members 4, 5, 6 and 1.

Another use is in connection with motion picture sets.

By constructing the apparatus in comparatively small sizes it can be used as a childs toy.

Additional uses for the apparatus, constructed in appropriate size, are in producing scenic effects in connection with stage presentations, and in the television studio.

Still another use of the apparatus is in connection with the production of abstract motion pictures.

It will be understood that the above is merely an exemplifying disclosure of the improved ani-` mated display apparatus of the invention and that many changes in the details of the construction and arrangement of the various parts can be made without departing from the spiritof the invention, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

' It is claimed:

l. In an animated display apparatus a rotatable horizontal table having a plurality of rotary friction drive members projecting above the surface thereof, a plurality of display objects of predetermined conguration resting on said table, magnetic means for causing one of said objects to be held in frictional engagement with each of said drive members to cause said objects to be moved over the surface of the table around said drive members in adjacent paths of motion on the surface of said table so as to produce a group display eiect, and means for simultaneously rotating said table and said drive members relative to the table.

2. In an animated display apparatus a rotatable horizontal table having a plurality of rotary friction drive members projecting above the surface thereof, a plurality of display objects of predetermined configuration resting on said table, magnetic means for causing one of said objects to be held in frictional engagement with each of said drive members to cause said objects to be moved over the surface of the table around said drive members in adjacent paths of motion on the surface of said table so as to produce a group display effect, means for simultaneously rotating said table and said drive members relative to the table, and means for independently adjusting the speed of said table and of each of said drive members to vary said display effect.

3. In an animated display apparatus a rotatable horizontal table having a plurality of rotary friction drive members projecting above the surface thereof, a plurality of display objects of predetermined coniiguration resting on said table, magnetic means for causing one of said objects to be held in frictional engagement with each of said drive members to cause said objects to be moved over the surface o f the table around said drive members in adjacent paths of motion on the surface of said table so as to produce a group display eiect, means for simultaneously rotating said table and said drive members relative to the table, means for independently adjusting the speed of said table and of each of said drive members, and means for independently changing the direction of rotation of each of said drive members and of said table to vary said display effect.

4. In an animated display apparatus, a turntable, means for supporting the turntable for rotation in a horizontal plane, a plurality of individual units rotatable with said turntable and mounted therebeneath, each unit including a friction drive member projecting vertically through an aperture in said turntable, a variable speed electric driving `motor and power transmission means including speed reducing gearing interconnecting the motor with the drive member. means for supplying electric current to the motor of each of said units as said turntable rotates. a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive said turntable, and individual speed controlling means for each of said motors.

5. In an animated display apparatus, a turntable, means for supporting the turntable for rotation in a horizontal plane, a plurality of individual units mounted on the underside of said 

